As Appalachian coal production continues its drastic decline, West Virginia’s coal-producing counties are not only losing people as lifelong residents are forced to flee their homes in order to find work, but in many cases, they’re also relinquishing millions of dollars from their budgets.

As Appalachian coal production continues its drastic decline, West Virginia’s coal-producing counties are not only losing people as lifelong residents are forced to flee their homes in order to find work, but in many cases, they’re also relinquishing millions of dollars from their budgets.

A West Virginia mine has been put on notice for safety and health violations.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced Nov. 26 that Coal River Mining LLC's Fork Creek No. 1 Mine in Lincoln County has been put on notice of a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

An MSHA audit revealed a mine operator failed to report miner injuries equivalent to 239 days of lost time during the review period.